Tips for making your skin feel as fresh as the weather
Take a look at your products
When preparing for spring, don’t forget to spring clean your skincare products and cosmetics. Purge anything that is past its prime or was the wrong formula for your skin type. Spring is all about fresh starts—not dried out cosmetics or soupy cleansers!
To make things easy, use a permanent marker to write the date you begin using a new product. Cleansers, moisturizers, serums, and toners usually have a shelf life of six months to one year. If you haven’t used it within that time, it probably isn’t a product you love anyway.
While you’re purging products that are past their prime, spend some time spring cleaning your makeup brushes. Wash your sheets and pillowcases often, too. Clean sheets (especially pillowcases) help prevent breakouts.
Mother knew best
Your guide for good skin any time of the year reads like a four-part lecture from your mom about the benefits of healthy living:
- Drink plenty of water to keep your skin hydrated. Water flushes toxins from your body, helps generate new cells, and even helps reduce the appearance of fine lines.
- Get enough sleep. Your levels of the stress hormone cortisol falls during sleep, which helps skin repair daytime damage.
- Exercise to keep the blood pumping and give you a healthy glow.
- Wash your face before and after a workout to avoid clogged pores.
- Eat plenty of fruits and vegetables. Your skin needs vitamins and nutrients to help you put your best face forward.
Exfoliate from head to toe
As we age, our skin becomes less effective at sloughing off the old cells. A gentle exfoliating scrub can give your skin a brighter appearance. Using an exfoliator on a regular basis can increase collagen production. How often you should exfoliate depends on your skin, so start off with once a week and see how your skin responds.
Moisturize
Since skin typically gets more oily as temperatures rise, spring is the perfect time to switch to a lighter moisturizer. If you normally use a foundation and moisturizer, you might want to try using a tinted moisturizer instead. This lighter weight option will leave you looking spring fresh.
Don’t pass on the sunscreen
Sunscreen is not just for tropical vacations or lounging by the pool. Use sunscreen every day, rain or shine. There is a sunscreen formula for everyone, regardless of skin type. Look for a product with an SPF of 30 or above. Use it alone or apply it under your makeup. This tip is for anyone with skin, but it is imperative for anyone using a retinol product.
